The old Station 35 can house only one fire truck. The new building has four bays. It also has living quarters for both male and female firefighters.

Matt Alter says the new firehouse is long overdue. He says it brings the Westwood fire company, known as the Midnight Express, into the modern age. The head of the firefighters union, Local 48 says the new station is a lot bigger, and gives them more room for equipment and training, and will allow them to host community meetings.

Alter says Westwood could still use another firehouse, just because the neighborhood is so busy.

The President of the Westwood Civic Association says the location on Harrison is great, and having an ambulance there is even better. Joel Kimmet says having an ambulance in the neighborhood will decrease response times. Right now, he says someone with a medical emergency has to wait for an ambulance to come from Price Hill, or Northside.

He says improved public safety will go a long way to opening up the neighborhood for redevelopment. Kimmet says a study showed economic activity increased in the neighborhoods where Cincinnati has built new fire stations. He's expecting the same to happen around the new Station 35.

Westwood is the city's largest neighborhood, with about 35,000 people. The new station should be operational by the end of November.